Reclining chair and leg-rest control



Oct. 16, 1962 F. F. SCHLIEPHACKE 3,053,775

RECLINING CHAIR AND LEG-REST CONTROL Filed May 21, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. I.

INVENTOR- FE/DTJOF F. JCHL/EP IACKE ATTOPNIYS Oct. 16, 1962 F. F. SCHLIEPHACKE 3,05

RECLINING CHAIR AND LEG-REST CONTROL 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 21, 1959 Oct. 16, 1962 F.' F. SCHLIEPHACKE 3,

RECLINING CHAIR AND LEG-REST CONTROL 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May 21, 1959 a y ,A M W a 3,058,775 RECLINENG QHAIR AND LEG-REST CUNTRGL Fridtjof F. Schliephacke, Beriin-Schmargendorf, Germany, assignor to Anton Lorenz, Ocean Ridge, Boynton Beach, Fla.

Filed May 21, 1959, Ser. No. 814,833 9 Ciaims. (til. 297-89) The present invention relates generally to reclining chairs, and in particular to improved leg-rest mounting and controlling arrangements for such reclining chairs.

The well known reclining chair comprises a support, body-supporting means including a back-rest and seat movably mounted on the support, and a leg-rest disposed beneath the seat and mounted for movement into an elevated leg-supporting position. Provision is made for moving the leg-rest from beneath the seat to the elevated leg-supporting position in response to the movement of the body-supporting means of the chair. Of recent times and with the tendency towards more modern and streamlined furniture, there has developed the need for reclining chairs wherein the chair support or frame is disposed above the level of the floor by depending legs, with the leg-rest being stored in a folded-back position within the vertical extent of and substantially hidden from view by such chair frame. With the leg-rest thus hidden from view, it is possible to style such reclining chairs to have the appearance of other pieces of the highleg modern design such that the reclining chair may be used in modern furniture groupings.

Broadly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved leg-rest mounting and controlling arrangement for a reclining chair which realizes one or more of the aforesaid objectives. Specifically, it is within the contemplation of the present invention to provide an improved and simplified leg-rest mounting and control arrangement for coordinating the elevation of the leg-rest of the reclining chair to the movement of the body-supporting means thereof. Advantageously, my improved leg-rest mounting and control arrangement finds application in reclining chairs of the type incorporating a unitary seat and back-rest unit of a high-leg modern styling.

In accordance with an illustrative embodiment demonstrating objects, features and advantages of the present invention there is provided a reclining chair of the type which includes a support, body-supporting means including a seat and back-rest and means including a guiding link pivotally connected to the support and to the seat for mounting the body-supporting means for movement relative to the support. A leg-rest is disposed beneath the seat and a leg-rest mounting and control arrangement is operatively connected to the leg-rest and to the body-supporting means with such arrangement comprising a first link pair including first and second links which are pivotally interconnected with the first link being pivotally mounted on the seat and the second link being pivotally connected, directly or indirectly, to the leg-rest. The arrangement further comprises a second link pair including third and fourth links which are pivotally interconnected, with the third link pivotally mounted on the guiding link and the fourth link being pivotally connected, directly or indirectly, to the leg-rest. Provision is made for coordinating the first and second link pairs as by a pivotal connection between one link of the first link pair and one link of the second link pair. A direct actuating link is pivotally mounted on the support and pivotally connected to one of the first and third links whereby in response to rearward movement of the seat relative to the support, the leg-rest is moved into successive elevated leg-supporting positions. With the described leg-rest mounting and controlling arrangement, the movement of the leg-rest is a function of the movement of the seat of the body-supates tent f 3,58,775 Patented Get. 16, 1962 ice porting means and of the movement of the guiding link of the mounting arrangement for the body-supporting means such that there are two controllable parameters for the operation of the leg-rest.

The above brief description as well as further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more fully appreciated by reference to the following detailed description of several illustrative embodiments in accordance with the present invention, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of an improved reclining chair demonstrating features of the present invention, the chair being shown in the upright or sitting position with the leg-rest in the stored or retracted position;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational View similar to FIG. 1 but showing the chair in a tilted position with the leg-rest in an elevated leg-supporting position;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of a further embodiment of reclining chair according to the present invention, the chair being shown in the upright or sitting position with the leg-rest in the retracted position;

1G. 4 is a side elevational view similar to FIG. 3 but showing the chair in a tilted posit-ion with the legrest in an elevated leg-supporting position;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of a still further embodiment of a reclining chair according to the present invention shown in the upright or sitting position with the leg-rest in a stored or retracted position;

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view similar to FIG. 5 but showing the chair in a tilted position with the leg-rest in an elevated leg-supporting position;

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of a still further embodiment of reclining chair according to the present invention shown in the upright or sitting position with the leg-rest in a stored or retracted position; and,

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view similar to FIG. 5 but showing the chair in a reclining position with the legrest in an elevated leg-supporting position.

Referring now specifically to the drawings, there is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 an improved reclining chair demonstrating features of the present invention, general- 1y designated by the reference numeral 10, which includes a support or chair frame 12 having opposite side frames 14 interconnected by appropriate cross braces, the adjacent side having been removed for clarity to expose the operating linkage at such adjacent side of the chair. The chair side frames 14 are seen to be of modern appearance including front and rear legs 16 and 18 interconnected by an arm rest 26 and a side brace panel 22.

Interposed between the side frames 14 is a rigid bodysupporting unit 24- which include a back-rest 26 and a seat 28 mounted on the chair support or frame 12 for movement relative to the support into various tilted resting positions, such as shown in FIG. 2. The body-supporting unit 24 is mounted between the side frames 14 by a main guiding or mounting linkage which includes a front guiding link 30 and a rear guiding link 23. The front guiding link 30 which is inclined upwardly and forwardly from its lower end to its upper end has a front pivotal mount 34 on the side panel 22 of the chair frame 12 and a front pivotal connection 36 at its upper end to the seat 28 of the b0dy-supporting unit 24. The rear guiding link 32 which is disposed substantially vertically in the sitting position of the chair has a rear pivotal mount 33 at its lower end on the side panel 22 of the chair frame 12 and a rear pivotal connection 40' at its upper end to the body-supporting unit 24 at the lower end of the back-rest and the rear of the seat. The front guiding link 30, the rear guiding link 32 and the portion of the seat 28 intermediate the front and rear pivotal connections 36, 4t serve as the movable links of the main guiding linkage while the portion of the support interme diate the pivotal mounts 34, 38 serve as the stationary link thereof. In response to the rearward tilting movement of the back-rest 26, the front guiding link 30 is effective to guide the forward portion of the seat 28 upwardly and rearwardly while the rear guiding link 32 is effective to guide the rearward portion of the seat 28 rearwardly and downwardly such that the unit may be moved from the upright or sitting position of FIG. 1 to the tilted back resting position of FIG. 2.

Disposed beneath the forward portion of the seat 28 is a leg-rest 42 which is mounted for movement from a stored or retracted position extending substantially horizontally and substantially within the vertical extent of the side panels 22 to an extended and elevated leg-supporting position spaced forwardly of the seat as shown in FIG. 2, with the leg-rest 42 moving substantially through 180 from the retracted position to the extended position. The leg-rest 42 is mounted for movement under control of the tilting movement of the body-supporting unit 24 by a leg-rest mounting and controlling linkage, generally designated by the reference numeral 44, which linkage comprises a first link pair including pivotally connected first and second links 46, 48 and a second link pair including pivotally connected third and fourth links 50, 52. The adjacent ends of the links 46, 48 of the first link pair are pivotally connected at a pivotal connection 54 while the adjacent ends of the links 50, 52 of the second link pair are pivotally connected at a pivotal connection 56. The link 46 of the first link pair has a pivotal mount 58 on the seat adjacent the forward end thereof, while the link 48 of the first link pair has a direct pivotal connection 64 to the leg-rest in this illustrative form of the invention. The link 50 of the second link pair has a pivotal mount 62 on the front guiding link 30 of the main guiding link- ;age, with the pivotal connection 62 being spaced from the pivotal connection 36 of the front guiding link 30 to the seat 28. The link 52 of the second link pair crosses over the link 46 of the first link pair and at the cross over point has a pivotal connection 64 which serves to coordinate the respective first and second link pairs, with the link 52 having a pivotal connection 66 at its forward end to the leg-rest 42 with the pivotal connection 66 being spaced from the pivotal connection 60.

Operatively connected between the extensible leg-rest mounting linkage thus described and the chair frame or support is a direct actuating link 68 which has a pivotal mount 70 on the side panel 22 of the chair frame or support 12 and has a pivotal connection 72 to the link 50 of the second link pair 50, 52, with the pivotal connection 72 being spaced from the pivotal mount 62 of the link 50 on the front guiding link 30.

A typical sequence of operations will now be described to facilitate a more thorough understanding of the pres ent invention: 1 i

' When the chair occupant is seated and leans against the back-rest 26 of the body-supporting unit 24, the bodysupporting unit tilts as a function of the design of the four-bar main guiding or mounting linkage. In response to the rearward tilting movement of the body-supporting unit 24, the pivotal mount 58 of the first link pair 46, 48 of the leg-rest mounting linkage moves upwardly and rearwardly along a path established by the design of the main guiding linkage; simultaneously the pivotal mount 62 of the second link pair 50, 52 of the leg-rest mounting linkage moves rearwardly and upwardly along a path established by the pivotally-mounted front guiding link 30, with the direct actuating link 68 causing the link 50 to turn about the pivotal mount 62 such that the legrest 42 is swung from the retracted position shown in FIG. 1 through a downward arc and then through an upward arc to the elevated leg-supporting position shown in FIG. 2. The final tilted back or reclining position may be established by the provision of an appropriate stop associated with any one of the links, for example, the stop 74 arranged to abut the rear guiding link 32 in the desired tilted position. When the chair occupant desires to restore the chair to the upright sitting position, the occupant merely presses against the leg-rest 42 which causes the chair to move from the tilted position shown in FIG. 2 to the upright sitting position of FIG. 1.

Referring now specifically to the drawings, there is shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 an improved reclining chair demonstrating features of the present invention, generally designated by the reference numeral 110, which includes a support or chair frame 112 having opposite side frames 114- interconnected by appropriate cross braces, the adjacent side having been removed for clarity to expose the operating linkage at such adjacent side of the chair. The chair side frames 114 are seen to be of modern appearance including front and rear legs 116, 118 interconnected by an arm rest 120 and a side brace panel 122.

interposed between the side frames 114 is a rigid bodysupporting unit 124 which includes a back-rest 126 and a seat 128 mounted on the chair support or frame 112 for movement relative thereto into various tilted resting positions, such as shown in FIG. 4. The body-supporting unit 124 is mounted between the side frames 114 by a main guiding or mounting linkage which includes a front guiding link 130 and a rear guiding link 132. The front guiding link which is inclined upwardly and forwardly from its lower end to its upper end has a front pivotal mount 134 on the side panel 122 of the chair frame 112 and a front pivotal connection 136 at its upper end to the seat 128 of the body-supporting unit 124. The rear guiding link 132 which is disposed substantially vertically in the sitting position of the chair has a rear pivotal mount 138 at its lower end on the side panel 122 of the chair frame 112 and a pivotal connection 141) at its upper end to the body-supporting unit 124 at the rear of the seat. The front guiding link 130, the rear' guiding link 132, and the portion of the seat 123 intermediate the front and rear pivotal connections 136, serve as the movable links of the main guiding linkage and the portion of the support intermediate the pivotal mounts 134, 133

.serve as the stationary link thereof. In response to the rearward tilting movement of the back-rest the front guiding link 130 is effective to guide the forward portion of the seat upwardly and rearwardly while the rear guiding link 132 is effective to guide the forward portion of the seat upwardly and rearwardly while the rear guiding link 132 is effective to guide the rearward portion of the seat rearwardly and downwardly such that the unit may be moved from the upright or sitting position in FIG. 3 to the tilted-back resting position of FIG. 4.

Disposed beneath the forward portion of the seat 128 is a leg-rest 142 which is mounted for movement from a stored or retracted position extending substantially horizontally and substantially within the vertical extent of the side panels 122 to an extended and elevated leg-supporting position spaced forwardly of the seat as shown in FIG. 4, with the leg-rest moving substantially through 180 from the retracted position to the extended position. The legrest 142 is mounted for elevation under the control of the tilting movement of the body-supporting unit 124 by a leg-rest mounting and controlling linkage, generally designated by the reference numeral 144, which linkage comprises a first link pair including pivotally connected first and second links 146, 148 and a second link pair including pivotally connected links 150, 152. The adjacent ends of the links 146, 148 of the first link pair are pivotally connected at a pivotal connection 154, while the adjacent ends of the links 150, 152 of the second link pair are pivotally connected at a pivotal connection 156. The link 146 of the first link pair has a pivotal mount 158 on the seat adjacent the forward end thereof, while the link 148 of the first link pair has a direct pivotal connection 160 to the leg-rest. The third link of the second link pair has a pivotal mount 162 on the front guiding link 131' of the main guiding linkage, with the pivotal connection 162 being spaced from the pivotal connection 136 of the front guiding link list to the seat 128. The link 152 of the second link pair crosses over the link 1146 of the first link pair and at the cross over point has a pivotal connection 164 which serves to coordinate the respective first and second link pairs, with the link 152 having a pivotal connection 166 at its forward end to the leg-rest with the pivotal connection 166 being spaced from the pivotal connection 16% Operatively connected between the mounting linkage thus described and the chair frame or support is a direct actuating link 163 which has a pivotal mount 17% on the side panel 122 of the chain frame or support 122 and in this embodiment has a pivotal connection 172 to the link 146 of the first link pair 148, 148, with the pivotal connection 172 being spaced from the pivotal mount 3 .58 of the link 146 on the seat 128.

A typical sequence of operations will now be described to facilitate a more thorough understanding of the present invention:

When the chair occupant is seated and leans against the back-rest 126 of the body-supporting unit 124, the body-supporting unit moves as a function of the design of the four-bar main guiding or mounting linkage. In re sponse to the rearward tilting movement of the body supporting unit 124, the pivotal mount 158 of the first link pair 146, 148 of the leg-rest mounting linkage moves upwardly and rearwardly along a path established by the design of the main guiding linkage; simultaneously the pivotal mount 162 of the second link pair 150, 152, of the leg-rest mounting linkage moves rearwardly and upwardly along a path established by the pivotally mounted front guiding link 139, with the direct actuating link 168 causing the link 146 to turn about the pivotal mount 15% such that the leg-rest 142 is swung from the retracted position shown in FIG. 3 through a downward arc and then through an upward arc to the elevated leg-supporting position shown in FIG. 4. The final tilted back or reclining position may be established by the provision of an appropriate stop associated with any one of the links for example, the stop 174 arranged to abut the front guiding link 130 in the desired tilted position.

Referring now specifically to the drawings, there is shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 an improved reclining chair demonstrating features of the present invention, generally designated by the reference numeral 219, which includes a support or chair frame 212 having opposite side frames 214 interconnected by appropriate cross braces, the adjacent side having been removed for clarity to expose the operating linkage at such adjacent side of the chair. The chair side frames 214 are seen to be of modern appearance including front and rear legs 216, 218 interconnected by an arm rest 22% and a side brace panel 222.

interposed between the side frames 214 is a rigid bodysupporting unit 24 which includes a back-rest 226 and a seat 228 mounted on the chair support or frame 212 for tilting movement relative thereto. The body-supporting unit 224 is mounted between the side frames 214 by a main guiding or mounting linkage which includes a front guiding link 239 and a rear guiding link 232. The front guiding link 23% which is inclined upwardly and forwardly from its lower end to its upper end has a front pivotal mount 234 on the side panel 222 of the chair frame 212 and a pivotal connection 236 adjacent to and spaced from its upper end to the seat 228 of the bodysupporting unit 224, with the front guiding link having an integral projection 238a extending beyond the front pivotal connection 236. The rear guiding link 232 is disposed substantially vertically in the sitting position of the chair and has a rear pivotal mount 233 at its lower end on the side panel 222 of the chair frame 212 and a rear pivotal connection 24% at its upper end to the body-supporting unit 224. The front guiding link 2234 the rear guiding link 232, and the portion of the seat 228 intermediate the front and rear pivotal connections 236, 24% serve as the movable links of the main guiding linkage and the portion of the support intermediate the pivotal mounts 234, 233 serve as the stationary link thereof. In response to the rearward tilting movement of the back-rest, the front guiding link 23% is effective to guide the forward portion of the seat upwardly and rearwardly while the rear guiding link 232 is effective to guide the rearward portion of the seat rearwardly and downwardly such that the unit may be moved from the upright or sitting position in PEG. 5 to the tilted back-resting position of FIG. 6.

Disposed beneath the forward portion of the seat 228 is a leg-rest 242 which is mounted for movement from a stored or retracted position extending substantially horizontally and substantially within the vertical extent of the side panels 222 to an extended and elevated leg-supporting position spaced forwardly of the seat as shown in MG. 6, with the leg-rest moving substantially through from the retracted position to the extended position. The leg-rest 242 is mounted for elevation under control of the tilting movement of the body-supporting unit 224 by a leg-rest mounting and controlling linkage, generally designated by the reference numeral 244, which linkage comprises a first link pair including pivotally connected first and second links 246, 248 and a second link pair including pivotally connected links 256, 252. The adjacent ends of the links 246, 248 of the first link pair are pivotally connected at a pivotal connection 254, while the adjacent ends of the links 250, 252 of the second link pair are pivotally connected at a pivotal connection 256. The link 246 of the first link pair has a pivotal mount 25% on the forward end of the projection 230 at a point spaced from the pivot 236 while the link 248 of the first link pair has a direct pivotal connection 26% to the leg rest 242. The link 250 of the second link pair has a pivotal mount 262 on the seat 228, with the pivotal connection 262 being spaced rearwardly from the front pivotal connection 236 of the front guiding link 236 to the seat 228. The link 252 of the second link pair crosses over the link 2246 of the first link pair and at the cross over point has a pivotal connection 264 which serves to coordinate the first respective and second link pairs, with the link 252 having a pivotal connection 266 at its forward end to the leg-rest 24-2.

Operatively connected between the mounting linkage thus described and the chair frame or support is a direct actuating link 268 which has a pivotal mount 270 on the side panel 222 of the chair frame or support 212 and has a pivotal connection 272 to the link 250 of the second link pair 258, 252 with the pivotal connection 272 being spaced from the pivotal mount 262 of the link 250 on the seat 228.

A typical sequence of operations will now be described to facilitate a more thorough understanding of the present invention:

When the chair occupant is seated and leans against the back-rest 226 of the body-supporting unit 224, the body-supporting unit tilts as a function of the design of the four-bar main guiding or mounting linkage. In response to the rearward tilting movement of the bodysupporting unit 224, the pivotal mount 258 of the first link pair 246, 248 of the leg-rest mounting linkage moves upwardly and rearwardly along a path established by the pivotally mounted front guiding link 230; simultaneously the pivotal mount 262 of the second link pair 256, 252, of the leg-rest mounting linkage moves rearwardly and upwardly along a path established by the design of the main guiding linkage, with the direct actuating link 268 causing the link 25% to turn about the pivotal mount 262 such that the legrest 242 is swung from the retracted position shown in PEG. 5 through a downward arc and then through an upward arc to the elevated leg-supporting position shown in FIG. 6. The final tilted back or reclining position may be established by the provision of an appropriate stop associated with any one of the links,

'2 for example the stop 274 arranged to abut the rear guiding link 232 in the position.

Referring now specifically to FIGS. 7 and 8 there is shown a still further improved reclining chair of the type including a movable seat and movable back-rest demonstrating features of the present invention, generally designated by the reference numeral 310, which includes a support or chair frame 312 having opposite side frames 314 interconnected by appropriate cross braces, the adjacent side having been removed for clarity to expose the operating linkage at such adjacent side of the chair. The chair side frames 314 are seen to be of modern appearance including front and rear legs 3'16, 318 interconnected by an arm rest 320 and a side brace panel 322.

Interposed between the side frames 314 is a split or two-part body-supporting unit 324 which includes a backrest 326 and a seat 323 mounted on the chair support or frame 312 for reclining and inclining movements respectively relative to the support into various reclining positions, such as shown in FIG. 8. The body-suporting unit 324 is mounted between the side frames 314 by a main guiding or mounting linkage which includes a front guiding link 33% and a rear guiding link 332. The front guiding link 33% which is inclined upwardly and forwardly from its lower end to its upper end has a front pivotal mount 334 on the side panel 322 of the chair frame 312 and a front pivotal connection 335 at its upper end to the seat 323 of the body-supporting unit 32-4. The rear guiding link 332 which is disposed substantially vertically in the sitting position of the chair has a rear pivotal mount 338 at its lower end on the side panel 322 of the chair frame 312 and is rigidly connected at its upper end to the lower end of the back-rest 326. The seat 328 is mounted by a rearwardly directed hanger 33 at a seat pivot 34f spaced above the rear pivotal mount 338 which serves as a back-rest pivot. The front guiding link 330, the rear guiding link 332 and the portion of the seat 328 intermediate the pivotal connections 336, 344) serve as the movabie links of the main guiding linkage while the portion of the support intermediate the pivotal mounts 334, 338 serve as the stationary link thereof. In response to the reclining movement of the back-rest 326, the front guiding link 33% is effective to guide the forward portion of the seat 323 upwardly and rearwardly while the rear guiding link 332 is effective to guide the rearward portion 7 of the seat 328 rearwardly and downwardly, such that the seat 328 is inclined and the body-support unit may be moved from the upright or sitting position of FIG. 7 to the reclining position of FIG. 8.

Disposed beneath the forward portion of the seat 328 is a leg-rest 342 which is mounted for movement from a stored or retracted position extending substantially horizontally and substantially within the vertical extent of the side panels 322 to an extended and elevated leg-supporting position spaced forwardly of the seat as shown in FIG. 8, with the leg-rest 342 moving substantially through 180 from the retracted position to the extended position. The leg-rest 342 is mounted for movement under control of the movement of the body-supporting unit 32 by a legrest mounting and controlling linkage, generally designated by the reference numeral 344, which linkage comprises a first link pair including pivotally connected first and second links 346, 348 and a second link pair including pivotally connected third and fourth links 350, 352. The adjacent ends of the links 346, 348 of the first link pair are pivotally connected at a pivotal connection 354 while the adjacent ends of the links 350, 352 of the second link pair are pivotally connected at a pivotal connection 356. The link 346 of the first link pair has a pivotal mount 358 on the seat adjacent the forward end thereof,

while the link 348 of the first link pair has a direct pivotal connection 360 to the leg-rest in this illustrative form of the invention. The link 350 of the second link pair has a pivotal mount 362 on the front guiding link 330 of the main guiding linkage with the pivotal connection 362 being spaced from the pivotal connection 336 of the front guiding link 33% to the seat 323. The link 352 of the second link pair crosses over the link 346 of the first link pair and at the cross over point has a pivotal connection 364- which serves to coordinate the respective first and second link pairs, with the link 352 having a pivotal connection 365 at its forward end to the leg-rest 342 with the pivotal connection 36-6 being spaced from the pivotal connection 36h.

Operatively connected between the extensible leg-rest mounting linkage thus described and the chair frame or support is a direct actuating link 36? which has a pivotal mount 37% on the side panel 322 of the chair frame or support 312 and has a pivotal connection 372 to the link 35d of the second link pair 359, 352, with the pivotal connection 372 being spaced from the pivotal mount 362 of the link 35% on the front guiding link 330.

A typical sequence of operations will now be described to facilitate a more thorough understanding of the present invention:

When the chair occupant is seated and leans against the back-rest 326 of the body-supporting unit 324, the seat 328 is inclined as a function of the design of the four-bar main guiding or mounting linkage. In response to the inclining movement of the seat 323, the pivotal mount 35% of the first link pair 34-6, 346 of the leg-rest mounting linkage moves upwardly and rearwar ly along a path established by the design of the main guiding linkage; simultaneously the pivotal mount 362 of the second link pair 354 332 of the leg-rest mounting linkage moves rearwardly and upwardly along a path established by the pivotally-mounted front guiding link 330, with the direct actuating link 35% causing the link 35? to turn about the pivtal mount 362 such that the leg-rest 34-2 is swung from the retracted position shown in PEG. 7 through a downward arc and then through an upward arc to the elevated leg-supporting position shown in FIG. 8. The final tilted back or reclining position may be established by the provision of an appropriate stop associated with any one of the links, for example the stop 374 arranged to abut the rear guiding link 332 in the desired reclining position. When the chair occupant desires to restore the chair to the upright sitting position, the occupant merely presses against the leg-rest 342 which causes the chair to move from the reclining position shown in FIG. 8 to the upright sitting position of FIG. 7.

A latitude of modification, change and substitution is intended in the foregoing disclosure and in some instances some feature of the invention will be employed without a corresponding use of other features. Accordingly it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the spirit and scope of the invention herein.

What I claim is:

1. In a reclining chair of the type including a support, body-supporting means including a seat and back-rest, and means including a front guiding link pivotally connected to said support and to said seat mounting said body-supporting means for movement relative to said support, the improvement comprising a leg-rest, a first link pair including first and second links pivotally interconnected, means pivotally mounting said first link on said seat, means pivotally connecting said second link to said leg-rest, a second link pair including third and fourth links pivotally interconnected, means pivotally mounting said third link on said front guiding link at a point spaced from the pivotal connection between said front guiding link and said seat, means pivotally connecting said fourth link to said leg-rest, means operatively connected to said first and second link pairs for coordinating said first and second link pairs, a direct .actuating link, means pivotally mounting said direct actuating link on said support, and means pivotally connecting said direct actuating link to one of said first and third links whereby in response to rearward movement of said seat relative to said support said leg-rest is moved into various elevated leg-supporting positions.

2. In a reclining chair of the type including a support, body-supporting means including a seat and backrest, and means including a front guiding link pivotally connected to said support and to said seat mounting said body-supporting means for movement relative to said support, the improvement comprising a leg-rest, a first link pair including first and second links pivotally interconnected, means pivotally mounting said first link on said seat, means pivotally connecting said second link to said legrest, a second link pair including third and fourth links pivotally interconnected, means pivotally mounting said third link on said front guiding link at a point spaced from the pivotal connection between said front guiding link and said seat, means pivotally connecting said fourth link to said leg-rest, means operatively connected to said first and second link pairs for coordinating said first and second link pairs, a direct actuating link, means pivotally connecting said direct actuating link to said third link whereby in response to rearward movement of said seat relative to said support said leg-rest is moved into various elevated leg-supporting positions.

3. In a reclining chair of the type including .a support, body-supporting means including a seat and back-rest, and means including a front guiding link pivotally connected to said support and to said seat mounting said body-supporting means for movement relative to said support, the improvement comprising a leg-rest, a first link pair including first and second links pivotally interconnected, means pivotally mounting said first link on said seat, means pivotally connecting said second link to said leg-rest, a second link pair including third and fourth links pivotally interconnected, means pivotally mounting said third link on said front guiding link at a point spaced from the pivotal connection between said front guiding link and said seat, means pivotally connecting said fourth link to said leg-rest, means operatively connected to said first and second link pairs for coordinating said first and second link pairs, a direct actuating link, means pivotally mounting said direct actuating link on said support, and means pivotally connecting said direct actuating link to said first link whereby in response to rearward movement of said seat relative to said support said leg-rest is moved into various elevated leg-supporting positions.

4. In a reclining chair of the type including a support, body-supporting means including a seat and back-rest, and means including a front guiding link pivotally connected to said support and to said seat mounting said body-supporting means for movement relative to said support, the improvement comprising a leg-rest, a first link pair including first and second links pivotally interconnected, means including an integral extension of said front guiding link pivotally mounting said first link on said seat, means pivotally connecting said second link to said leg-rest, a second link pair including third and fourth links pivotally interconnected, means pivotally mounting said third link on said seat, means operatively connected to said first and second link pairs for coordinating said first and second link pairs, a direct actuating link, means pivotally mounting said direct actuating link on said support, and means pivotally connecting said direct actuating link to one of said first and third links, whereby in response to rearward movement of said seat relative to said support said leg-rest is moved into various elevated legsupporting positions.

5. A reclining chair comprising a support, a unitary body-supporting unit including a seat and back-rest, a main guiding linkage including front and rear guiding links each pivotally connected to said support at front and rear pivotal mounts to said seat at front and rear pivotal connections and mounting said body-supporting unit for rearward tilting movement relative to said support, said front guiding link, said rear guiding link and the portion of said seat intermediate said front and rear pivotal connections serving as the movable links of said main guiding linkage and the portion of said support intermediate said front and rear pivotal mounts serving as the stationary link thereof, a leg-rest, a first link pair including first and second pivotally connected mounting links, means pivotally mounting said first link on said seat, means pivotally connecting said second link to said leg-rest, a second link pair including third and fourth pivotally connected mounting links, means pivotally mounting said third link on said front guiding link at a point spaced from said front pivotal connection, means pivotally connecting said fourth link to said leg-rest, means operatively connected to said first and second link pairs for coordinating said first and second link pairs, a direct actuating link, means pivotally mounting said direct actuating link on said support, and means pivotally connecting said direct actuating link to one of said first and third links whereby in response to said rearward tilting movement of said body-supporting unit relative to said support said leg-rest is moved into various elevated leg-supporting positions.

6. A reclining chair comprising a support, a unitary body-supporting unit including a seat and back-rest, a main guiding linkage including front and rear guiding links each pivotally connected to said support at front and rear pivotal mounts and to said seat at front and rear pivotal connections and mounting said body-supporting unit for rearward tilting movement relative to said support, said front guiding link, said rear guiding link and the portion of said seat intermediate said front and rear pivotal connections serving as the movable links of said main guiding linkage and the portion of said support intermediate said front and rear pivotal mounts serving as the stationary link thereof, a leg-rest, a first link pair including first and second pivotally connected mounting links, means pivotally mounting said first link on said seat, means pivotally connecting said second link to said leg-rest, a second link pair including third and fourth pivotally connected mounting links, means pivotally mounting said third link on said front guiding link at a point spaced from said front pivotal connection, means pivotally connecting said fourth link to said leg-rest, means operatively connected to said first and second link pairs for coordinating said first and second link pairs, a direct actuating link, means pivotally mounting said direct actuating link on said support, and means pivotally connecting said direct actuating link to said third link whereby in response to said rearward tilting movement of said body-supporting unit relative to said support said leg-rest is moved into various elevated leg-supporting positions.

7. A reclining chair comprising a support, a unitary body-supporting unit including a seat and back-rest, a main guiding linkage including front and rear guiding links each pivotally connected to said support at front and rear pivotal mounts and to said seat at front and rear pivotal connections and mounting said body-supporting unit for rearward tilting movement relative to said support, said front guiding link, said rear guiding link and the portion of said seat intermediate said front and rear pivotal connections serving as the movable links of said main guiding linkage and the portion of said support intermediate said front and rear pivotal mounts serving as the stationary link thereof, a leg-rest, a first link pair including first and second pivotally connected mounting links, means pivotally mounting said first link on said seat, means pivotally connecting said second link to said leg-rest, a second link pair including third and fourth pivotally connected mounting links, means pivotally mounting said third link on said front guiding link at a point spaced from said front pivotal connection, means pivotally connecting said fourth link to said leg-rest, means operatively connected to said first and second link pairs for coordinating said first and second link pairs, a direct actuating link, means pivotally mounting said direct actuating link on said support, and means pivotally con- 11' meeting said direct actuating link to said first link whereby in response to said rearward tilting movement of said body-supporting unit relative to said'support said leg-rest is moved into various elevated leg-supporting positions. 8. A reclining chair comprising a support, a unitary body-supporting unit including .a seat and back-rest, a

main guiding linkage including front and rear guiding links each pivotally connected to said support at front and rear pivotal mounts and to said seat at front and rear pivotal connections and mounting said body-supporting unit for rearward tilting movement relative to said support, said front guiding link, said rear guiding link and the portion of said seat intermediate said front and rear pivotal connections seeking as the movable links of said main guiding linkage and the portion of said support intermediate said front and rear pivotal mounts serving as the stationary link thereof, said front guiding link having an integral projection extending beyond said front pivotal connection, a leg-rest, a first link pair including first and second pivotally connected mounting links, means pivotally mounting said first link on said integral projection at a point spaced from said front pivotal connection, means pivotally connecting said second link to said leg-rest, a second link pair including third and fourth pivotally connected mounting links, means pivotally mounting said third link on said seat, means pivotally connecting said fourth link to said leg-rest, means opera: tively connected to said first and second linkpairs for coordinating said'first and second link'pairs, a direct actuating link, means pivotally mounting said direct actuating link on said support, and means pivotally connecting said direct actuating link to said third link whereby in response to said rearward tilting movement of said body-supporting unit relative to said support said leg-rest is moved into various elevated leg-supporting positions.-

9. An improved leg-rest mounting and controlling i'arrangement for a reclining'chair of the type includingla support, a unitary body-supporting unit including a seat and back-rest, a main guiding linkage including at least a front guiding link pivotally connected to said support at a front pivotal mount and to said seat at a front pivotal connection and mounting said body-supporting unit for rearward tilting movement relative to said support, said arrangement comprising a leg-rest, an extensible mounting linkage including a plurality of pivotally connected mounting links, means pivotally mounting one of said links on said seat, means pivotally connecting two further ones of said links to said leg-rest, means pivotally mounting a still further oneof said links on said front guiding link at a point spaced from said front pivotal connection, a direct actuating link, means pivotally mounting said direct actuating link on said support, and means pivotally connecting said direct actuating link to one of said links whereby in response to said rearward tilting movement of said body-supporting unit relative to said support said leg-rest is moved into various elevated legsupporting positions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

